Devotionals

Against The Word.

Matthew 13:20-21
ESV
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

I want us to pay attention to this part of the verse👇

"and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away"

When we receive a word or promise from God, we shouldn't be shocked when we almost immediately encounter spiritual warfare, trials, tests and challenges that seem contradictory.

You can find yourself in a situation where God said His your healer but you are sick. Where God promised He'll direct your steps and though you are obedient, you can find yourself shaking, feeling more lost than ever. Don't be shocked when God promised us peace, that He cares and yet it appears as if God is far and everything is against what has been promised to you.

These shouldn't make you doubt the word but rather trust the word even more because with every promise, word and direction from God, the enemy follows to sabotage.

I can remember when God spoke to me during a fast I had. I heard what He said clearly. He gave me a promise and soon, after a couple of weeks things felt like a living nightmare. It was spiritual attack after spiritual attack. I was in such a foggy situation. I doubted the word so many times wondering if maybe it was my own thoughts and desires. I wanted to give up, I felt alone and TIRED!!

But soon after I realised after confirmation that that word was truly from God. The persecution, trials and challenges I started facing weren't for me to back down and give up but rather for me to stand firm in what God had told me. There are times God gives us a word and afterwards that word is under a test. I needed that promise to be deeply rooted within me and remain in unwavering faith.

The reason why God allows this time is because of the impact it has on us. It grows us in spiritual maturity and trust in God.

The attacks are from the enemy. We can forget that though God has a plan, will and desires for our lives so does the enemy. He desires to ruin our lives, mislead us and bring us as far from God as possible.

When God speaks a word to us. We are not the only ones aware. The enemy knows. He sees and observes the kingdom of darkness will be all out to stop what God has promised. They'll do everything they can. They'll throw sin and temptation, if we are in sin how can God birth what He desires in us? He will allow troubles and persecution against the word to change who we are. The enemy will cause HAVOC in our relationships, studies, work etc. He'll attack our health so we start questioning God.

The enemy is not alone, Satan isn't omnipresent. In the kingdom of darkness, there are principalities, rulers and more. Fallen angels do all they can to harm the children of God.

The enemy will speak doubt, insecurity, anxiety, fear and panic in us so that we are so distracted that we can't stand firm.

So I just wanted to encourage you to remember to not question the word and God's promises to us. Where you are. If you're led by God, sometimes that leading will be to the wilderness seasons, the challenges and the trials all aren't to harm you but rather build you up and whatever the enemy meant for evil whether to harm you, bring you to shame bring you to the place of blessing. God will use that very thing to help accomplish His will for your life.

Today, I encourage you to pray with Joseph, a man who went through a lot from his youth words in mind.

Genesis 50:20
ESV
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Let's pour our hearts before God and worship because God remains with us even in the fire, prison, pit and den. God is with us in situation that appears deadly, crazy and horrible. His healing power is with us, His grace is with us, His mercy and salvation are with us. His peace strengthens us and His power enables us to keep on going but never will He leave us.

Pray that whatever the enemy doing in your life, that it will be defeated and be put to shame. That the camp of the enemy will be in utter confusion, for they sought to take us women of God down with attacks but we still praise God. They sought to bring us to depression but we will seek joy in Him. They seek to bring us to torment but Christ set us free. They'll seek to confuse but God is clarity. They have sought to attack our health, but we have a God who heals. They sought to block and delay us from receiving what God has promised but in Christ, every weapon formed against us does not prosper. We go through the fire but don't get burned. They sought to use words to attack but curses are broken in the name of Jesus.

Let's pray, let go on our knees and let's rise against the enemy attacking what is our heritage. God's word is a promise, a sure word, a word without fault and a word we a law spiritually that every knee shall bow to. The word is the Jesus we serve and nothing can harm us when we keep our sword.

Let's pray!

-etty